DEPRESSION

Depression

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a mental illness by overwhelming feelings of sadness, fear, and anger.

Depression patients are often at risk of suicide.

Everyone feels sad at times, but clinical depression is characterized by long term emotional
impairment that inhibits ones ability to live normally.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR SYMPTOMS OF

DEPRESSION?

Fatigue, loss of energy.

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness.

Lack of focus.

Recurring thoughts about dying and killing oneself.

Significant change In weight.

Some say depression can make

you stronger. However no one
knows who these some are.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY DEPRESSION?

People of all ages, race, gender, economic status are vulnerable to depression.

Children and teenagers can have depression, and can distort the way they view their own
lives.

The death of
a teddy bear
can have a
serious
impact on a
childs
emotional
health.

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

Both heredity and environmental events are believed to be factors in the onset of depression.

Certain types of Depression recurs in multiple family members

Examples of factors include: Alcohol, emotional events such as death/separation, sleeping

problems, stress, and chemical imbalances in the brain.

Break-ups and sudden changes in life can cause depression.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF

DEPRESSION?

1. Major: Characterized by a persons inability to function normally due to depressive

symptoms.

2. Chronic: Also known as dysthymia, is characterized by two or more years of depressive

symptoms. People who have dysthymia experience more than one depressive episode in their
lifetimes.

3. Atypical: People who have atypical depression overeat, oversleep, are extremely fatigued,
and very sensitive.

People with atypical

depression are always
fatigued.

Sleep loss can cause depression.

Major Depression can

harm social life.

HOW DO YOU TREAT DEPRESSION?

Medication such as SSRIs, which stand for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which
works by blocking the uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, can help patients with
depression. SNRIs, or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are often used also.

Talk therapy, with professional psychiatrists and therapists, can help. People tend to do better
when they are told the psychological reasons for their behavior.

Taking medications carefully and correctly, while learning how to manage side effects, can be
very effective.

Talking to trusted friends or lovers can be beneficial to the patient.

Medication is effective in
treating depression.

Friendship is invaluable in
eliminating some of the
symptoms of depression.

As the examples show, depression affects people of all classes, rich and poor, royal and
common, man and woman, actor, writer, and princess, etc.

Princess Diana

Boris Yeltsin
Harrison Ford

SMILE!

Showing an emotion (that may not

represent your true feelings) can help you
feel that way.

Smiling when under stress can help you

feel happier!

If worst comes to worst, you can cut be

like Joker and put a smile on that face
(with a knife of course).

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE..